Col. Michael B. Eltz is the Commander, 414th Fighter Group, Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C. As the Commander, Col. Eltz is responsible for executing the Chief of Staff of the Air Force directed Total Force Integration with the 4th Fighter Wing. The 414th Fighter Group is an Air Force Reserve Command unit manned by highly experienced F-15E fighter pilots, weapon systems officers, intelligence professionals and maintenance technicians. He directs activities of 265 personnel assigned to the 307th Fighter Squadron and the 414th Maintenance Squadron.
Col. Eltz graduated from the University of Tampa in 1992 and was commissioned through the ROTC program at the University of South Florida. After completing computer officer training, he was assigned to the USAF Air Warfare Center. He served in several positions, culminating as Network Division Chief for the 53rd Support Squadron. In 1998, Col. Eltz was selected for Euro-NATO Joint Jet pilot training at Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas. Since completing F-15E training, he has held squadron, group and wing leadership positions. Col. Eltz has deployed to participate in Operations NORTHERN WATCH and ENDURING FREEDOM. The colonel transitioned to the Air Force Reserve Command in 2014 to execute the Total Force Integration Classic Association Fighter Group mission. He is a command pilot with more than 2,700 hours in the F-15E. In his civilian capacity, Col. Eltz is a pilot with a major airline. Prior to his current assignment, he served as the Deputy Commander of the 414th Fighter Group, Seymour Johnson AFB, N.C.
EDUCATION
1992 Bachelor of Arts, Computer Information Systems, University of Tampa, Fla.
1997 Squadron Officer School, Air University, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2004 Air Command and Staff College, Air University, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2008 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
ASSIGNMENTS
1. November 1992 – March 1993, Student, computer officer training, Kessler AFB, Miss.
2. March 1993 – October 1995, Computer Systems and Network Analyst, USAF Air Warfare Center, Eglin AFB, Fla.
3. October 1995 – September 1997, Network Operations Chief, 53rd Wing, Eglin AFB, Fla.
4. September 1997 – May 1998, Network Division Chief, USAF 53rd Wing, Eglin AFB, Fla.
5. May 1998 – October 1999, Student, Euro-NATO Joint Jet pilot training, Sheppard AFB, Texas
6. October 1999 – August 2000, Student, F-15E pilot training, Seymour Johnson AFB, N.C.
7. August 2000 – November 2003, Chief of Life Support, Scheduling and Wing Programs, 90th Fighter Squadron, Elmendorf, Alaska
8. November 2003 – November 2004, Chief of Interdiction Plans, 607th Combat Plans Squadron, Osan AB, Korea,
9. November 2004 - November 2007, Instructor Pilot, Wing Battlelab Liaison and Assistant Director of Operations 391st Fighter Squadron, Mountain Home AFB, Idaho
10. November 2007 – March 2008, Formal Training Unit Instructor Pilot, 334th Fighter Squadron, Seymour Johnson AFB, N.C.
11. March 2008 – October 2008, Director of Staff, 4th Fighter Wing, Seymour Johnson AFB, N.C.
12. October 2008 - June 2010, Squadron Director of Operations and Group Assistant Director of Operations, Seymour Johnson AFB, N.C.
13. June 2010 - August 2012, Commander, Training Support Squadron Detachment 15, Seymour Johnson AFB, N.C.
14. August 2012 – March 2014, Deputy Commander, 4th Operations Group, Seymour Johnson AFB, N.C.
15. April 2014 – December 2017, Deputy Commander, 414th Fighter Group, Seymour Johnson AFB, N.C.
16. December 2017 - present, Commander, 414th Fighter Group, Seymour Johnson AFB, N.C.
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: command pilot
Flight Hours: more than 2,700
Aircraft flown: F-15E
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal with five oak leaf clusters
Air Medal with five oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant May 2, 1992
First Lieutenant Aug. 5, 1994
Captain Aug. 5, 1996
Major Feb. 1, 2003
Lieutenant Colonel Feb. 1, 2008
Colonel May 1, 2017
(Current as of December 2017)